Folding table and lunch-case for automobiles



v. KELLEY; I .FOLDING TABLE AND LUN-CH CASE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

A'PPUCATION FILED AUG; 3I. 1920.

Patented Ma y 17, 1921.

"Fig.3. Throuq hX End. 13%

Fig. I.

lNvEzToR I ATTORNEY UNITED srars PAUL KELLEY, 0F EVERETT, WASHINGTON;

FOLDING TABLE Ann LUNCH-CASE non humor/mum 0' all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL V. KELLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State of lVashington, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tables and Lunch-Cases for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding tables and lunch cases for the safe and convenient carrying of provisions and other articles for use on automobile trips with camping parties, picnics, or on tours, and has for one of its objects the construction of a table that maybe in daily use in the home and adapted-to be quickly folded to serve as an outer casing for transporting in compact form, cooking utensils, dishes, and other essentials for cooking and serving meals.

My invention will be first described in the construction illustrated and its principle pointed out and the particular features thereof which are new and for which a pat ent is desired will then be defined by the claims.

And it is hereby declared that the follow:

ing description of the invention, read in J connection with the accompanying drawings in which I have shown my invention in the type of construction I- now prefer'to use, constitute a full, clear, and exact description thereof that will enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

In the drawings, similar reference characters have been employed to denote corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table and containers, shown in their relative positions for receiving edibles, cooking utensils, and other necessary articles preparatory to proceeding on a trip.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device when all the separable elements are consolidated or packed on the running board of an automobile for transportation.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section on line wm of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal cross section on line .ez of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross section on line y z of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of lids 6*, 6*, that cover the trays 6,6, in the inverted rec-- tan lar box frame secured to the under sur ace of top 4 of the table. 7

' board of an automobile.

planview of the lid covering Specification of LettersPatent. I Patgnfedim 17 1921- Application filed August 31, 1920. 7 Serial No. 407,187. v i i F1g. 7 1s a, perspective View of the table in position for ordinary use.

Fig. 8 1s a perspective view of the device when folded and packed on the running Fig. 9 is a container 2. The table as shown in Fig. 7 is designed to provide, when extended, a flat surface 36 x 42 inches, which will suffice for six persons. And in its construction I make the central portion .or top 4, nine inches wide and thirty-six inches long and provide it with two leaves3, 16% x 36 inches, that are hinged to the under side of top' l along the longitudinal edges thereof as shown at 10. Cleats 3 are aflixed to the under sur face of the leaves along the transverse edges thereof to fill the space between the leaves and the legs againstwhich they rest, thereby stlfi'ening the leaves.

The said top a has fixedly securedv to its under surface an inverted rectangular boxframe of like dimensions and to each corner of said frame a leg 5 is rigidly attached;

and midwaybetween the under surface of the table top 4: and the free ends of said 'four legs, I fixedly secure'a supplemental inverted rectangular box frame 7 of like dimensions with that secured to the under surfaceof the top of the table.

With a table so constructed, and inverted to serve. as a casing for compartments, I attain space for packing equivalent to about three and one-fourth cubic feet which I apportion as follows: F or ediblesone and one fourth feet, and for utensils, dishes, etc.-, two cubic feet.

In assembling the several elements of this device for the purpose of arranging for an automobile trip, the table is used as an outer casing in which everything is.

packed. My first move is to place every thing in an accessible place, then move the hinged legsof the table backward so as to enable the leaves of the table to drop; then invert the table on the running board of the car so that top 4 will be the bottom of the casing. Then place container 1 (hold ing cooking utensils, dishes, and the like) on the bottom, which is the top of rectangular box frame securedto the under surface of the table top 4 and is provided with trays 6, 6. These trays are for use as follows:

One for toiletarticles; and the other forknives, forks, "and spoons.

I next place container 2, containing edibles, on top of supplemental rectangular box frame 7 wherein is a tray for the table linen. Bottles or flasks containing milk, condiments, and other liquids may be carried safely by packing them in upright position in containers 1 and 2. WVhen all edibles are packed in container 2, I place the lid or cover 2* thereon; and if all other articles to be taken on the trip are packed in their proper places I raise the table leaves 3 to vertical positions and hook them to legs 5 as shown in Fig. 8.

In choosing the dimensions for top .4 of

the table I had in mind its ultimate use and purpose to which it was to be applied, that is, adapting it for'resting on the running board ofan automobile when the leavesare raised vertically and hooked to legs 5 as shown. The space thus occupied is 10% x 36 inches. I

' It will be observed that container 2 is of rectangular form and is provided on each longitudinal outer surface, ator near its diagonally opposite corners, with a rib or cleat 9 so as to retain the said container in fixed position after it has been properly placed in the folds of the table.

Container 1 is also rectangular in form and at its diagonally opposite corners is provided with shoulders or rabbets 11 to provide a recess for movable legs 8 when the table is used for an outercasing. 7

This device is a very convenient piece of kitchen furniture that may be transferred in a minute from kitchen use to the running board of an automobile when contem- 1 plating a trip for camplng or picnic purposes, for it'provides a food box 5!; x 11 x 34 inches; a utensil box 9 x 11 x33 inches, and trays for table linen, knives, forks, spoons, and toilet articles; And when the casing has been unpacked it may be inverted and a secured to the under surface of the table top and said leaves hinged to the under side of the top along its longitudinal edges, so that when the table is inverted the top thereof becomes the bottom of said casing'and the leaves are adapted to be raised vertically to serve as sides of the casing; and means for securing the leaves in said vertical position, and a supplemental rectangular box .frame invertedly secured between the four legs intermediate the table top and the floor.

2. In an article of the character described, a casing, in combination, composed of afolding table consisting of a top, two leaves, and six legs; four legs being rigidly attached to a rectangular box frame, and two legs hingedly secured to same frame to support the leaves, said frame being invertedly secured tothe under surface of the table top and said leaves hinged to the under side of the top along its longitudinal edges, so that when the table is invertedthe top thereof becomes the bottom of said casingand the leaves are adapted to be raised vertically, to

serve as sides of the casing; and means for securing the leaves insaid vertical position,

a supplemental rectangular box frame-ins vertedly secured between the four legs intermediate the table top and the floor, and a plurality of superposed compartments within said casing.

PAUL v. KELLEY. 

